I personally think that Ross will be a better player than DeMar, but ultimately this is Casey's decision.

I think it comes down to whether or not DeMar is a better listener than Ross. I don't think it will come down to skill level. If DeMar does what Casey wants him to do, and doesn't cry about it, then he's going to get the minutes. The starting job is his until his ego gets in the way, or until he goes down with an injury. That's my guess.

Who here thought that Kawahi Leonard would start (for the Spurs no less) coming out the gate?

Point: No one really knows at this stage until the season starts and he gets real NBA action. Leonard himself quite possibly surprised himself. I'll just say that Ross doesn't look like a dud. So I am hopeful.

Off topic: Austin Rivers seems to be having a hard time of it. The Hornets want him as their starting PG. Yikes.

Demar has the ability to take over a game. Not consistently, which is what the question is, can Demar be an impact scorer/player consistently. Demar can find open people, get on the boards, and play defense (defense isn't great, but with effort), it's all if he can be CONSISTENT.

I can't believe we are questioning the fact that Ross will also have the green light, and is a better shooter, in comparison to J.R Smith when drafted. Doesn't that point out ANY speculation to be a big time bench scorer? I'd rather see a great shooter with the green light come off the bench rather than a guy with no shooting range off the bench.

Demar has the ability to take over a game. Not consistently, which is what the question is, can Demar be an impact scorer/player consistently. Demar can find open people, get on the boards, and play defense (defense isn't great, but with effort), it's all if he can be CONSISTENT.

I can't believe we are questioning the fact that Ross will also have the green light, and is a better shooter, in comparison to J.R Smith when drafted. Doesn't that point out ANY speculation to be a big time bench scorer? I'd rather see a great shooter with the green light come off the bench rather than a guy with no shooting range off the bench.

If Ross lights it up, there's a part of me that now sees Casey using DeRozan at the 3. Fields becomes the primary backup wing at either position, and Kleiza sits on the bench growing his beard.

I prefer this scenario.

I really want the coaching staff to shy away from the flip-flopping of starters. I think it was really good that Casey didnt budge when Bayless had a few good games as a starter when Jose got injured. He stuck with Jose as the starter.

I'm confident that Demar will have a breakout year this season better then all his past season stats should he remain healthy. So much so he might just make the All-Star or be in close voting.

Thats it folks....save it and shove it in my face next year...if I'm wrong

THE END

dont worry, ill put my credibility on the line too, hehehe.

Demar needs to have a breakout season this year. full training camp, learning the holes in his game last year, this should be the season where he puts everything together and takes his game to next the level.

he already knows his strengths and weaknesses and what defenses are giving him. time to step up.

Demar traded? Now that's an IDEA!!! Please note: not being sarcastic here.

“The saving of our world from pending doom will come, not through the complacent adjustment of the conforming majority, but through the creative maladjustment of a nonconforming minority.” - Martin Luther King

Demar needs to have a breakout season this year. full training camp, learning the holes in his game last year, this should be the season where he puts everything together and takes his game to next the level.

he already knows his strengths and weaknesses and what defenses are giving him. time to step up.

Too bad he still dribbles like a 3 year-old.

“The saving of our world from pending doom will come, not through the complacent adjustment of the conforming majority, but through the creative maladjustment of a nonconforming minority.” - Martin Luther King

Without any further roster moves on the wing, I assume Fields and DeRozan will be the starters at the beginning of the season, and likely throughout.

Kleiza is best suited to play SF on the 2nd unit (and some time at PF in smaller 2nd unit lineups). He is too streaky/inconsistent a scorer to be a starter and doesn't bring the same level of defense that Fields does.

Ross could very well become a starting SG, but he's definitely not ready yet and certainly not polished enough to supplant DeRozan in the starting lineup. DeRozan still needs to vastly improve his game (dribble penetration with consistent finishing, 3pt shooting and defense) to maintain his starting role long-term, but he still garners enough attention from the opposition that his inclusion in the starting lineup benefits the other 4 starters far more than Ross would.

The one concern I have about a DeRozan/Fields starting wing combo is the lack of consistent 3pt shooting. If they can both improve on their 3pt shooting % from last season, I think they will jointly provide enough to keep defenses honest.

I think the 2nd unit has good balance with Kleiza/Ross. Kleiza can post-up or play on the perimeter, while Ross can play on the perimeter, curl off screens or penetrate off the dribble.

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Ideally, I'd like to see the starting SF upgraded with a veteran who is a good 3pt shooter and above average defender (ie: Iguodala), without giving up any of our 4 current wing players. This would allow Fields to slide into the starting SG spot, resulting in a vastly improved starting wing combo, defensively speaking.

DeRozan could slide into the backup SF spot, as the 6th man scorer off the bench (could still wind up in top 3-5 in total MPG, behind Bargnani, Iguodala, Lowry and possibly Fields). Ross would still be the backup SG.

Kleiza would become the 5th wing, but would likely see significant time as the backup PF, with Amir/Davis getting significant time as the backup C (assuming one of Amir/Davis is traded away to land the new starting SF).

Gray would become the 11th man, seeing time only in bigger 2nd unit lineups against true C's (and likely getting some time with the starters, when Valanciunas is overmatched and/or in foul trouble).